Saltwater · Year-round off Florida and on Campeche Bank; best in warm months.
Littlehead Porgy
Calamus proridens
One of the smallest and prettiest porgies, important commercially on Campeche Bank and common off Florida. It hugs sponge and coral bottom inshore and near shore.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Small head with a distinct hump on the back just before the dorsal fin; wavy dark-blue lines on the snout and cheek
- Fins are silvery with blue lines
- Deep, laterally compressed body typical of its family
- Strong jaws with incisor-like front teeth and molar-like side teeth for crushing shellfish
- Recorded to about 46 cm in exceptional fish; most caught are 20-30 cm and under 1 kg.
Habits
- Inhabits inshore and nearshore sponge and coral bottom, hugging close to the bottom
- One of the most important commercial porgies on Campeche Bank (Yucatan)
- Feeds on molluscs, crabs and other hard bottom invertebrates
Distribution
🐋 Where the big ones are
- Size: Recorded to about 46 cm in exceptional fish; most caught are 20-30 cm and under 1 kg.
- Best waters: Tampa, FL · Florida, Daytona Beach, FL · Florida, Florida Keys, FL · Florida, Veracruz & the Campeche Gulf Coast · Veracruz, Tabasco & Campeche, Yucatán Peninsula · Quintana Roo & Yucatán
- Prime months: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Where to find them
- East coast of Florida reefs and hard bottom
- Florida Keys sponge and coral bottom
- Campeche Bank off the Yucatan, plus the Greater Antilles
Where they live
How to catch them
Reef bottom fishing Boat
Rig: Fish-finder / knocker rig: egg sinker above a swivel, 30-60 cm fluorocarbon leader, #1-1/0 circle hook
Bait/lure: Small pieces of shrimp or squid
Key tip: Anchor up-current of a patch reef, keep the bait tight to the bottom and reel steadily on the bite instead of striking hard.
Small jig tipped with bait Boat
Rig: 6-12 g bucktail or micro jig on 20-30 lb leader
Bait/lure: Jig tipped with a small piece of shrimp
Key tip: Work the jig slowly along reef edges and sandy pockets with long pauses; most bites come as it settles.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: Light to medium spinning rod 2.1-2.4 m
- Line: 10-20 lb braid or mono main line
- Terminal: 20-30 lb fluorocarbon leader, #2-1/0 circle hooks, egg or pyramid sinkers to hold bottom
Recommended gear for this species
Rod · Best value
7'6" medium-heavy jigging rod
≈ US$110-170
Works 2-6 oz jigs over rock and reef and still has the backbone to lift a big bottom fish off the bottom.
Line · Budget
50 lb braid with 40 lb leader (200 yd)
≈ US$25-40
Thin braid cuts the current so jigs stay vertical; the leader shrugs off rock and teeth.
Terminal · Budget
Leadhead jigs, swimbaits and two-hook bottom rigs
≈ US$25-40
A leadhead with a swimbait tail is the universal bottom-fish catcher on rock, reef and sand.
Picks are never paid placements. Prices are guides; price links are coming soon and none is an affiliate link yet.
Typical size
Recorded to about 46 cm in exceptional fish; most caught are 20-30 cm and under 1 kg.
On the table
Good small food fish with sweet white flesh.
Similar species
Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →
Plan a trip for Littlehead Porgy
Build today's plan⚠ Heads-up: Littlehead Porgy doesn't occur around Vancouver, BC (or is very rare there), so it's not a sensible local target. Your plan stays in Vancouver, BC and is built around the fish that actually live there.